[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 18, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11617-S11618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT

  Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise today to again urge the entire 
Senate, and particularly the majority leader, to get the WRDA bill, the 
Water Resources Development Act, onto the floor of the Senate 
absolutely as soon as possible for passage.
  Of course, I represent the State of Louisiana. A little while ago, on 
August 29, we commemorated--certainly did not celebrate but properly 
commemorated--the 2-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. A little 
while from now, on September 24, we will similarly commemorate the 2-
year anniversary of Hurricane Rita, which devastated southwest 
Louisiana, South Acadiana, as well as southeast Texas.
  Of course, the Nation and this Congress, this Senate, has done an 
enormous amount with regard to hurricane recovery. But we all know that 
challenge and that work continues. There is nothing more important with 
regard to that work, with regard to ensuring good, strong hurricane 
flood protection in the future--unlike we have had in the past, 
clearly, in light of Hurricane Katrina--than passing this water 
resources bill.
  As you know, it has gone through every stage of the process except 
passage on the floor of the Senate. We had a Senate bill. We had a 
House bill. We had a conference committee. We had deliberations of the 
conference committee. I was honored to serve on that conference 
committee and helped finalize the final conference committee report.

[[Page S11618]]

  Even before the August recess, the House of Representatives passed 
that conference committee report. So now all eyes are on the floor of 
the Senate. That is where we must finish the job. That is why I urge 
Senator Reid and others to put the WRDA bill on the floor of the Senate 
as soon as possible.
  Recently, on September 6, I sent Senator Reid a letter, following up 
on numerous discussions we have had with other Members, urging him to 
put the bill on the floor as soon as possible, certainly during 
September. Again, I come to the floor of the Senate to urge the Senate 
leadership to do that in light of the crucial nature of this bill for 
continued recovery, hurricane flood protection in Louisiana.
  I am particularly disappointed this week that is not happening while 
we go to other business, including the DC voting rights bill. Now, 
there are folks very interested and focused and committed to that DC 
voting rights bill. That is their right. I have no particular quarrel 
with that. I am going to vote against it because I sincerely believe it 
is clearly contrary to the U.S. Constitution. But that is a legitimate 
disagreement, and we can debate about that and have that legitimate 
disagreement. I do not quarrel with their focus and their passion. I 
do, quite frankly, quarrel with putting that on the floor of the Senate 
before the WRDA bill, when that WRDA bill and significant provisions in 
it are life and death to south Louisiana, to our recovery in the wake 
of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
  Those events, 2 years ago last month and this month, make passage of 
the WRDA bill a true emergency priority for this body. The same cannot 
be said of the DC voting rights bill or other things that are being 
considered for Senate floor action. Again, those other measures--the DC 
voting rights bill, in particular--have their proponents, and that is 
their right. I do not quarrel with their passion for that. But that is 
not the sort of real emergency as we face in Louisiana with regard to 
the protection we need.
  We are in the midst of a hurricane season. We are at the peak of a 
hurricane season. Yet we continue to be years and years overdue for 
this WRDA bill and all the very significant provisions it contains for 
our people, for our State, for our vanishing coastline.
  So, in closing, I again urge the majority leader to put the WRDA bill 
on the floor of the Senate as soon as possible, and absolutely this 
month, and to establish the right priorities for this body and for this 
country, including that very important effort which I believe should be 
on the floor of the Senate, should gain action, should gain focus 
before other measures, including the DC voting rights bill.
  With that, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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